This in-between time
April 23, 2020
Jesus was crucified according to God’s timetable on the day of the Jewish celebration of Pesach (Passover). Three days later, He rose from the dead. Fifty days after Pesach was Shavuot (Feast of Weeks, Lev 23:15-17) when the Jews celebrated the giving of Torah (Instruction) at Sinai. On that day, which we celebrate as Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out and the church was born (Ac 2).
What did Jesus do between His resurrection and Pentecost? He “…showed Himself alive [to His apostles] after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God. While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Of which,’ He said, “you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.’” (Ac 1:3-5 AMP)
Luke and John provide more details about the “infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations”:
- He walked, unrecognized, to Emmaus with two disciples “and beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Lk 24:27).
- He broke bread with them, causing them to recognize Him, then disappeared. They returned at once to Jerusalem to tell the others (Lk 24:30-35).
- He appeared to His disciples in a locked room, showed them His crucifixion wounds and ate with them, proving He was Spirit still incarnated in a resurrected body (Lk 24: 36-43, Jn 20:19).
- He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24:45-47).
- He instructed them to wait until they were clothed with power from on high (Lk 24:49).
- At the empty tomb He asked grief-stricken Mary, “Who is it you are looking for?”, called her by name and sent her to tell the others she had seen Him (Jn 20:15-18).
- He appeared to Thomas saying, “Stop doubting and believe” and “Because you’ve seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Thomas called Him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:27-29).
- He directed a miraculous catch of 153 fish and ate with the disciples around a simple campfire (Jn 21:1-13).
- He reinstated Peter, who’d betrayed Him (Jn 21:15-17).
One more thing about the time in between Pesach and Shavuot: The Jews were to offer an omer of barley seed the day after Pesach, count 7 weeks to Shavuot, then bring an offering of two loaves of bread made with fine flour. This symbolizes a complete planting-to-harvest cycle.
God is infinitely creative, yet He establishes patterns with natural things which He then replicates with spiritual things. We have just observed an extraordinary Passover in which Jews worldwide were confined in their homes for the first time since the Exodus. Passover and communion coincided this year. And Ramadan begins Friday, April 24 and continues until Saturday, May 23. Pentecost is May 30.
In this “in between time” as we actively wait for Pentecost while celebrating the power of the blood of Jesus Christ who was crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven…let’s pray that what Jesus did then among His disciples, He will do now among Muslims and Jews as they are confined in their homes. Carefully go through the list of Jesus’ “infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations” and ask Him to repeat each one in these days leading to an outpouring of the Spirit and the great Harvest.
A Note to the Reader:
Some friends asked for my thoughts about praying from Acts 1:3 for Muslims during Ramadan, which is occurring this year between Passover and Pentecost. I had quite a few thoughts about this, and now we can all join them in asking the Lord to renew His awesome deeds in our day (Hab 3:1)!
Ramadan 2020 starts this Friday and continues until May 23. I will not be writing GOD HEARS Prayer Letters during this time because there are some great daily online Ramadan prayer guides you can sign up for and join Christians globally praying as one for the salvation of Muslims.
30 Days of Prayer for Muslims in CANADA https://lovingmuslimstogether.outreach.ca/prayramadan
30 Days of Prayer for The Muslims World https://www.pray30days.org/store/
Pryaercast https://www.prayercast.com/love-muslims-home.html